U.S. and 15 others slam EU regulation of farm products at WTO [Reuters]
The United States and 15 other countries launched a broadside of criticism at the European Union on Thursday, saying its “hazard-based” approach to regulating pesticides and other “critical tools” used by farmers was damaging livelihoods worldwide. Their statement, submitted to the World Trade Organization, said the EU’s approach created great uncertainty and diverged from science-based risk assessments, creating disruption that threatened to escalate significantly in coming years….They said farmers needed to be able to access the “full range of safe tools and technologies” in order to meet the challenge of producing more food.
United States makes first-ever rice sale to China: trade group [Reuters]
A private importer in China last week bought U.S. rice for the first time ever, in the midst of a trade war between the two nations, a rice industry group said on Wednesday. The Chinese importer bought two containers, about 40 tonnes, of medium-grain rice from California-based Sun Valley Rice, said Michael Klein, a spokesman for USA Rice, a trade group that promotes the sale of the U.S. grain….Chinese officials agreed to allow imports of U.S. rice in July 2017, following years of negotiations. But a nearly year-long trade dispute between the two countries threatened the first sale.
Rain, cool weather bring down California almond production [Bakersfield Californian]
Weather-related disruptions contributed to a substantial decline in California almond production this year, suggesting farmers of Kern’s second largest-grossing crop may take a financial hit as well. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s California Almond Objective Measurement Report, the industry’s official crop estimate, projected the state will turn out 2.2 billion pounds in 2019, or 3.5 percent less than last year….Because total acreage set aside for almonds increased year over year, the reduction is actually steeper as measured on a per-tree basis….Kern almond grower Matt Billings said that while the Objective Measurement Report has tended to be pretty accurate, farmers in the county think this year’s total may be on the low side.
Alleged ag thief caught ‘yellow-handed’ by deputies [Visalia Times-Delta]
Detectives have caught a would-be thief “yellow-handed” through the use of an innovative crime-fighting tool, according to the sheriff’s department….They were following up on a series of agricultural-related thefts in the area, according to sheriff’s officials….One suspect, Juan Castaneda, 18, of Exeter, was found at the house with SmartWater on his hands. Once sprayed on equipment, the liquid is invisible, odorless, stays on a thief for up to five years without them noticing….“Our Tulare County Sheriff’s Ag Crimes Unit is a progressive unit, leading California in the adoption of CSI Smart Water technology,” said Tricia Stever Blattler, Executive Director of Tulare County Farm Bureau.
Second tree-sitter joins protest at Rainbow Ridge [Eureka Times-Standard]
Another tree-sit has gone up in the Mattole watershed….Support for the logging protests is continuing to grow. More than 50 people ranging from students to retirees gathered in front of Monument Gate, which leads to Rainbow Ridge, Wednesday to share stories about the area, perform skits and protest the logging….John Andersen, director of forest policy with Humboldt Redwood Company, told the Times-Standard in previous interviews that the company has a policy not to chop down any old-growth forest, which is usually unentered or continues to function like an old-growth forest ecosystem even if it has been entered, and legacy trees, which are defined by the company as having been planted before 1800.
https://www.times-standard.com/2019/07/04/second-tree-sitter-joins-protest-at-rainbow-ridge/
Dixon farmers angered by sunflower selfies [Vacaville Reporter]
Sometimes, beauty can be deadly. Take Dixon, where fields boast gorgeous displays of blooming sunflowers that apparently lure visitors to lumber onto private property for that “It” shot. Sadly, those beautiful blooms sometimes get trampled by overzealous, or just clumsy, photo-takers. Those nature lovers, by the way, are also committing a crime, that of trespassing. This is illegal, and farmers have every right to request selfie seekers stay off their private property,” advised Solano County Sheriff’s officials on the department’s Facebook page.
https://www.thereporter.com/2019/07/03/dixon-farmers-angered-by-sunflower-selfies/
